Single Fallen Tree Blamed For Widespread Outage in North Muskegon

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NORTH MUSKEGON, Mich. (April 28, 2014) — Monday morning, a large oak tree fell across Ruddiman Drive, a busy road in North Muskegon.

The tree fell on power lines as well. As a result, more than a thousand homes and businesses lost power, according to the city. The tree sits in Terry Twining’s front yard, and he said he didn’t even hear it tumble.

“It must have been a real slow falling tree. The lines caught it and just started ripping it out,” Twining said.

“It’s an old tree. I think the house had been in the family for 30 years, and [the tree has] been here longer than that. So it’s an old tree. So it’s been in the family for quite a while,” Twining explained.

Twining said he didn’t realize the massive oak had fallen until noticing the power in his home was out around 7:00 a.m.

“It’s served its purpose. So apparently [it] just got a little weak,” he said.

The wind also snapped a couple of power poles. The city said power was restored by 2 p.m. However, Twining said he was still without power and needed more electric work done.

North Muskegon neighborhoods still show signs of the last wind storm that swept through in early April. Now Twining is tasked with cleaning up the mess.

“The house is pretty good. We got some minor repairs to do, but we could take care of that,” he said.

He said the thought that the tree could have fallen on his house is enough to “make you a little sick.” But Twining is glad it fell the other way.

“No one’s hurt that’s always a good thing,” he said.

FOX 17 learned that other trees fell outside of the Blockhouse, killing more power.